Just this morning I finally reached Stephen O'Dea, the man who will take folks horseback riding who wish to go. The ride will be 2 1/2 hours, plus or minus, on the north shore, near Cane Bay. Stephen can take up to 6 people at a time. The ride will include trails through ruins and rain forest vegetation to the top of a hill affording wonderful views of the ocean and vistas to St. Thomas and St. John. The ride concludes with cooling off the horses in the water where you will ride the horses right into the ocean for a horseback swim. All this for less than last year - $70.00 per person. So, let me know if this is something that you want to do.

On another note, if you plan to snorkel off the beach a lot, you may want to go to your local WalMart and pick up an inexpensive set to have with you. What they will cost is less than what you will pay to rent for the week.

The snorkel trip(s) will leave right from Cottages at days and times to be determined. Being off season, we can pretty much set our own times.

Arrival day, Saturday, will be a good time to have a barbecue and get to know everone. I have arranged for a jazz band to entertain from 6:30 to 9:30. Since the patio area will be crowded with all of us, we will move the band next door to the restaurant area, still less than 75 feet away. How does grilled bratwurst and Italian sausage on rolls with potatoe salad and cole slaw sound?

Tuesday will be Big Beard's Sunset Cruise followed by the beach buffet with show at the Hotel on the Cay.

If you haven't checked out the website for www.gotostcroix.com or the site for http://www.caribbeancottages.com/, this will give you a lot more information.

Six cars have been reserved so far. Call Centerline Car Rentals and mention that you are with the Eastwind group for a 10% discount. They were very fair with us last year.

Around mid October I will email everyone with their information, as I have it, for any corrections.

Til next time--------------